Dad: Daughter's death in accident 'tore me to pieces'

SANTA ANA – Overwhelmed with grief, the father of a 5-year-old girl who died in an accident that also left his wife and 6-year-old daughter critically injured said the tragedy "tore me to pieces."

Jorge Omar Meza, 33, broke down several times as he talked about the pain caused by his daughter's death and the uncertainty of his wife's condition.

"I hope God saves my wife," Meza said in Spanish on Tuesday outside of Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where his wife of 11 years and daughter remained hospitalized. "I don't know if she is going to survive or not."

The crash occurred Saturday morning when Osmara Meza, 5, her mother and sister were holding hands as they crossed 17th and Spurgeon streets in a marked crosswalk. That's when Jessicah Louise Cowan, suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, plowed through a red light about 60 mph and hit all three, police said. Cowan fled but was arrested a few blocks away after a witness chased and cornered her, police said.

Osmara was pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother, Eloisa Magaña, 45, suffered head trauma and remained in a coma. Her sister, Grecia Meza, 6, also suffered head trauma and was in critical condition but was expected to survive, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

Meza said Grecia opened her eyes on Sunday and asked for her little sister.

"I haven't told her about her mother or her sister," Omar Meza said as he tried to hold back tears. "My little angel is gone."

Meza recalls leaving home about 5:45 a.m. Saturday to go to work. He said his daughters were sleeping, and he gave them a blessing and a little kiss and told his wife he was leaving money so she could take the girls to have breakfast at Norm's restaurant.

"If I hadn't left her money, I don't think none of this would've happened," Meza said.

Magaña and her daughters were walking from their apartment on Spurgeon Street to the restaurant. As they crossed 17th at Spurgeon, police say Cowan – traveling west on 17th in a silver 2002 Lexus IS – ran a red light about 11 a.m. and hit all three family members.

Cowan's car threw them about 70 feet, police said.

Cowan continued driving, but a woman who witnessed the accident followed her about two blocks, cut her off and trapped her at 17th and Main streets, Bertagna said.

"We think she is a hero," Bertagna said about the good Samaritan.

Cowan, 33, of Lake Hughes faces felony charges of murder, driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.08 percent causing bodily injury and hit-and-run causing injury. She also faces an infraction for possession of marijuana while driving and sentencing enhancements and allegations for having a blood alcohol level over 0.20 percent and causing bodily injury, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Shortly before the fatal crash, Cowan is accused of driving on 17th Street and running through a red light before losing control and crashing into the median, prosecutors said.

Cowan faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted.

Cowan is being held at the Central Women's Jail. Her arraignment was continued Tuesday to July 11.

"It's not fair what that woman did to me," Meza said. "She destroyed everything."

The Santa Ana Police Foundation set up a fund to help the family pay for burial expenses. To make an online donation, visit sapdf.org/tragedy or send a check payable to Santa Ana Police Foundation, 2321 E. Fourth Street, Suite C-175, Santa Ana, CA 92705.